Lost – Your Nickname from Sawyer?

OK! One of my favorite shows is Lost. When I was in Las Vegas in January, I unintentionally got my friend Doug addicted to the show. He has watched all three seasons and has caught up with season four (You can watch every episode online in HD and free at this link).

 

Anyway, he found this nickname generator that allows you to put some data and creates the nickname Sawyer would give you.

 

My nickname is: Third Degree.

 

What is yours?

Like a Good Neighbor

Last night Renee and I went to the Homeowners Association meeting for our subdivision. Now we are the chairman’s of the Social Committee. J

When Renee and I moved to Greenville, SC we were intentional about buying a home where we would be in a neighborhood and interact with those who lived around us. Since moving here we’ve connected with just about every family on our street. We have also begun a friendship with the family who lives directly behind us. Our yards back up to each other and our dogs like to play together. We often find ourselves standing in the yard talking anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hours.

Being a part of the Social Committee now gives us an opportunity to connect with the people who live in the 190 homes of our subdivision. We only need to plan a few events a year and I get a budget. J

This may seem like a little thing but I am excited. We have been in ministry for 20 years. One of my pet-peeves as a church leader is that we can stay so buy doing “church” stuff that we forget to be the church. I know pastors who have no relationships with people outside their church. This is very unhealthy. I value having relationships outside the church. This is one of the reasons I am effective in ministry. I am refreshed by relationships that are not based on me being their pastor but being the guy down the street. This doesn’t minimize my calling…it maximizes it.

If church work keeps you so busy you cannot build relationships with your neighbors….then you are too busy!! Stop it! Right now! Say no to some things so you can yes to others.

What do you think? Have you found yourself craving relationships with people outside your church? What did you change to make this happen in your life? What needs to change so you can?

Oh yea….what do you think about a 4^th of July picnic with fireworks by the community pool?

53 New Members @ SpringWell

This past Sunday I was given the priveledge to teach the first level of our membership track at SpringWell. In 20 years of ministry, this was the most energizing new members class I have ever been a part of.  We had 59 people attend. We laughed, we cried, we ate, and we laughed some more.

One of my pet-peaves in relationship to membership and the local church is that we make it too easy. We often never ask people to specifically commit to be a partner in minitry. As we came to a close in the final session, I asked for specific commitments. I not only verbalized the request for each new member to commit being a member but also asked for commitments in connecting with a group, begin tithing, and be water baptised . Once I clarified the commitments we asked each person to submit their information cards. Here are the results:

53 New Members

53 Committed to Tithe

46 Committed to be in a Group

                32 in a Home Group

                38 in a Service Group

                8 in a Care Group

11 Committed to be Water Baptised

Wow! All because we asked.

What kind of a commitment are you asking for?